How to use Brush Killer to Kill Weed Trees

Weed trees in the landscape garden

Cut the stem close to the ground

fresh cut stump

weed killer painted onto the leaves to prevent transference of the chemical into the roots of the large tree.

Maintaining a hedge, wildlife habitat, or natural garden includes managing the weedy volunteer trees. Birds, rodents, wildlife, and wind all bring in tree seeds. Many seedlings are impossible to pull or dig out by hand. Cutting them off is a temporary solution and will create multiple stem trees, so an herbicide brush killer is necessary to permanently eliminate weed trees.

Purchase a brush killer. There are herbicides that are directed at killing weeds and grass, these products will not work on woody plants like trees. Look for one that states brush, poison ivy, or trees.

Use an inexpensive paintbrush that can be disposed of when you are done. Brush killers are powerful herbicides and the product should never be introduced to the water systems. Using a paintbrush will allow application directly to each individual tree that needs to be killed.

Place a small amount of herbicide into a small dish. If you have a lot of brush to clear, it is easier to see where you have been if you add a small amount of food dye. Wear gloves as brush killer can be absorbed through the skin. Use a pruner, saw, or lopper to cut off the weed tree an inch or two from the ground.

Immediately paint the brush killer onto the freshly cut stem.

Trees growing parts are the phloem and the xylem, which are in the growth rings right next to the bark of the tree. Pay extra attention to thoroughly brushing the herbicide around the bark area on a larger stump (one inch or more). This will transport the brush killer through the living cells into the roots of the tree.

If the weed tree is in a place that is hard to reach or you don’t want to risk getting the herbicide onto another plant, you can paint the product onto the leaves. The photo example shown is about a week after application. Notice how the tree is dying from the top down, it literally has to "grow itself to death", transporting the herbicide systemically.

Dispose of the tree brush and clean up following the product directions. The stem or stump should not sprout watershoots if the brushkiller product was applied during the growing season.

Tips:

Spring and summer are the best time to kill tree brush as the plant needs to be actively growing.

Avoid spraying this product. Drift can get onto desirable plants or even into the root system of nearby trees! Painting onto a freshly cut stem is the easiest way to control application and successfully kill the unwanted tree.

Never cut poison ivy, instead paint the leaves to prevent the poison from getting onto your gloves or pruning equipment. It takes about three years to completely kill poison ivy.